"Pirates 4" Rumors Confirmed False

Rumors have been circulating on the Internet regarding the fourth film in the Pirates of the Caribbean series recently, stating that Tim Burton would be directing Johnny Depp would be paid an immensely large sum, and that Sacha Baron Cohen (best known as "Borat," but who also played Pirelli in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) would play Captain Jack Sparrow's brother.

But in case you didn't respond to your gut or head, writer Terry Rossio has confirmed that this is all false.

Rossio posted the following message on a forum:

For the record, none of the recent Pirates 4 rumors have any truth, including the so-called record 50 million dollar payday for Depp.

Some pretty funny stuff, though. Sacha Cohen? Tim Burton? Studios are way too protective of their franchises for that sort of thing.

Rossio was also the screenwriter of the previous three Pirates movies.